Jonathan Baldwin News

Originally published December 25, 2009 at 11:20 a.m., updated December 25, 2009 at 1 p.m. CHARLOTTE, N.C. a ' Moments after finishing their last full college practice, Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull and defensive tackle Mick Williams emphasized the importance of their senior class' legacy.

The Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, NC has a great match up - at least as far as the organizers are concerned - with a ranked team and Big East runner up No.

The Meineke Car Bowl in Charlotte Saturday December 26th, will pit the Pittsburgh Panthers against North Carolina Tar Heels.

Pitt offensive line coach Tony Wise has been selected the FootballScoop.com Offensive Line Coach of the Year.

The honors continue to roll in for Pitt Freshman tailback Dion Lewis, who has been named the 2009 Eastern College Athletic Conference rookie of the year.

Perhaps no team took as much of a costly tumble toward the end of the season as Pittsburgh, which was one defensive stand away from claiming the Big East's spot in the BCS.

Pittsburgh landed 13 players on the Rivals.com All-Big East team, but Cincinnati 's Mardy Gilyard might be the biggest winner.

Senior tight end Dorin Dickerson was the most decorated player in Pitt's heralded recruiting class of 2006, but after three rather undistinguished seasons he was on the path to becoming one of the largest busts in Panthers history.

The Pitt Panther football team earned three of the Big East Conference's top postseason honors, including the Offensive, Defensive and Rookie of the Year awards.

Not so long ago, the Pitt Panthers were 9-1, ranked in the Top 10, and looking at the possibility of a BCS bowl game and the massive payday that goes with it.

Jarrett Brown was ready. He was hoping it wouldn't happen, but the West Virginia quarterback was ready for the two-minute drill.

The kid made a big mistake and probably will blame himself for the rest of his life for losing Pitt's biggest football game in nearly 30 years.

The UC Bearcats defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers 45-44 to win their second straight Big East Championship.

Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly is a secret weapon for the Bearcats when they invade Pitt this weekend.

"I think we underestimated him last year," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "We won't this year." By ALAN ROBINSON AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH -- The Big East didn't need to add an extra game, book an empty stadium, negotiate a TV slot or split into divisions to get what the SEC, Big 12 and ACC already enjoy.

West Virginia's defense held Pittsburgh to a season-low in points on Friday night, knocking off the No.

The University of Pittsburgh, the nation's ninth-ranked football team, has waited two weeks to play this 102nd renewal of The Backyard Brawl.

By JIM BUTTA, jbutta@newsandsentinel.com AND STEVE HEMMELGARN, shemmelgarn@newsandsentinel.com MORGANTOWN-When one team plays another more than 100 times, one would believe that anything that could happen in a game would have.

Once upon a time they shared they were a matched set. Friends. Teammates. They were almost so close that if one cut his finger, the other bled.

Thanks for participating in the Pitt football Q&A. Keep the questions rolling in and I will answer them every day throughout the season and through whatever bowl game Pitt goes to and through signing day in February.